Over the past month, rebel forces in Syria have enjoyed tactical successes which analysts say demonstrate their growing ability to challenge the government's military dominance.

The rebels have displayed military strength and organisation in capturing several major military bases, seizing weaponry, disrupting supply lines, and forcing the military to pull back.

Capturing military bases

It is unclear how many government bases the rebels have overrun since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011, mostly because they have rarely attempted to hold them because of the risk of retaliatory air strikes or ground assaults.

Analysts have in the past summed up the rebel strategy as "hit and run".

The base of the army's 46th Regiment at Atareb was a pillar of the government's garrison in Aleppo

However, rebel fighters now appear to be seeking to occupy or prevent the government regaining key army and air force bases which they have captured following co-ordinated offensives, some lasting several weeks.

Such a move will help solidify rebel control over Syria's border regions, analysts say, by making it harder for government forces to deploy warplanes and heavy armour. Many opposition supporters hope that with international help such areas will become fully "liberated" and that government forces will no longer be able to operate in the north.

Looks like the proverbial bag of brown stuff just might be thrown into the fan soon. I have a nephew working in Amman Jordan. Couldn’t find meaningful work in the USA, with a few degrees under his belt. I cannot help but wonder how Jordan will make out in all this if things become really nasty.

From your reference to the Hayes/JOSCELYN Article from last year. I remember reading that one. What has keep me off a bit over time has been where Iran supports the over throw of the Syrian government, yet, Russia wants Assad to stay in power, and use them for it's own purposes, and obviously have a warm water port to send it's warships to counter potential Israeli actions in the Med.. Strange scenarios constantly are cropping up in that part of the world. Just thinking out loud. No response required.

Neither Russia nor Syria, not even Iran right now are interested in any action against Israel. Their main objective is to keep regime, and this regime is about a single non-islamist, Judeo-Christian-friendly in a region. Israel itself is interested to keep Syria regime as well.

Any crap in media about threats from Syria to Israel is simply a disinformation to make public think how bad Syrian regime is and to support action against Assad.

I find an idea of intervention on side of radicals as absolute awful - Lybia, Egypt are perfect examples.

Someone in Odumbo administration builds a new adversary in a Middle East in form of huge radical Islamist Caliphate of Middle East and North Africa. These idiots must me nostalgic about a Cold War or something. The problem is islamists won’t be any thankful for such a support as they proved earlier.

And their superstate will have enough economic power to get both bomb and delivery systems. Unlike commies were, mullahs are insane enough to use it. They’ll do it right next after killing every Christian they can and destroying Israel.

"Neither Russia nor Syria, not even Iran right now are interested in any action against Israel." I not imply in my comments that Russia or Syria where going to go after Israel. I mentioned Russia's desire to have the warm water port available in the Med for their military and other uses, interfaces with Syria. Perhaps I should not even had brought up Israel in the context I presented. But it has to be considered in the equation. Otherwise I have no problem with what you wrote. I have written similar in the past. Assad's Allawi have not been any harder on the Christians and Jews in most of Syria, then Sunni and Shiite. Their police state has been pretty much balanced over the years to keep things in stasis. Much as had been the case with the mad dog's regime. The clowns in the White Hut are royally screwing up everything previous administrations had put in place for so many years. It has to be deliberate. There are to many long term people in the DOS for one, who know well the balancing acts regarding the Mid East and the relationships between US and Russia, France, Britain, etc., and the many dictators that keep the goons under check for the most part. Now the Pandora box has been opened.

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